Attorneys Practicing In This Area:
Lanier Ford provides consultation and representation to public boards of education throughout Alabama. Our attorneys represent school systems in all areas of public school law, including teacher tenure and special education, as well as claims arising from the following laws, among others:
- Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
- Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
- Title VI of the Civil Rights Act (prohibiting race, color, and national origin discrimination).
- Title IX of the Civil Rights Act (prohibiting sex discrimination in education programs receiving federal funds).
- Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
- Alabama Teacher Accountability Act and previous Fair Dismissal Act.
- Alabama Students First Act.
- Alabama Open Meetings Act.
- Alabama Student Harassment Prevention Act.
Representation During Litigation
County and city school boards are often confronted with a variety of litigation, including—
- Termination of employment.
- Student discipline.
- Due-process and equal-protection claims.
- Employment discrimination claims.
- Challenges to local laws, ordinances, rules, and regulations.
- Claims asserting negligent provision of public services.
- Special-education claims.
Lanier Ford represents these governmental entities, their officers, and employees in the defense of such claims. Our attorneys have knowledge and experience asserting the unique defenses and immunities to which these entities are entitled.
Diverse Related Issues
In addition to litigation, the firm represents school boards and provides them advice in such areas as—
- Contracts.
- Eminent domain proceedings and other real estate transactions.
- Income from Sixteenth Section lands.
- Controversies involving taxing districts.
- Compliance with requirements of federal grants.
- Drug-testing policies.
- School transportation.
- Intellectual property (especially trademark violations).
